Imagine a world where Michael Bay's The Island was made...but without Michael Bay. What if that movie had the same basic science fiction concept, yet explored it using a different perspective and infinite subtlety, rather than non-stop Baysplosions ...Kablaamm!!!...Kabloom!!!
That film now exists in the form of Never Let Me Go, adapted by regular Danny Boyle collaborator Alex Garland and directed by Mark Romanak. And, in every single way (apart from the explosions), Never Let Me Go is infinitely better than Bay's migraine-fest. If follows the intertwined lives of Kathy, Tommy & Ruth, starting at the time they all lived and studied at a strict English Boarding school and onwards through their lives. Where this differs significantly in story from The Island is that the principle characters do NOT rebel. From the day a morally concerned teacher advises the kids that their purpose in their short life is to be organ donors, to the day society required them for harvesting...they gloomily accept their fate. While it may not be as exciting as a story where the protagonists say "To hell with the system. Let's break out/Let's change things!" it is more realistic. How many of us work within the confines of society...observing the rule of law, economy, etiquette etc...until the days we die. we may not like it but we do. In the short lifespan of the three leads we can see the larger issues of life, love, faith and identity on them, as these issues might affect us in our own lives.
The film's tone is restrained and muted and in many ways quite sad. With Mark Romanak's reserved direction the performances of the three leads is allowed to carry the movie. Knightly's role is relatively small, but she does well in a posh, bitchy part. Andrew Garfield (soon to be the new Spider-man) is someone with the range and acting chops to make an impact on awards ceremonies in years to come. But it's the utterly brilliant Carey Mulligan that devours the screen...and all while doing very little. They say acting is mostly about reacting...and hers is a performance of a quiet introvert, tiny expressions and unexpected acting choices making us feel every emotion in her being. This girl's gonna win an Oscar one day. Also astounding is the work of young Izzy Meikle-Small who plays Kathy at a younger age. It's as if they shrunk Mulligan down to a younger child and retained all of the incredibly subtle acting ability when they did it.
A small, under-stated film about life itself, Never Let Me Go is quite brilliant and really quite heartbreaking. What's even more upsetting at this early stage is how little Oscar buzz it's getting. Come the new year, I hope that changes.
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